GHS/OCD Promotes Counter Terrorism Awareness Week

GHS/OCD Promotes Counter Terrorism Awareness Week

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) invite the community to celebrate Counter Terrorism Awareness Week (CTAW) between November 25 – December 1, 2018. Lieutenant Governor Ray Tenorio will sign the CTAW Proclamation on Monday, November 26, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Ricardo J. Bordallo Governors Complex, Large Conference Room.

During the CTAW proclamation signing, GHS/OCD will also distribute twenty-three (23) Fire Rescue Armor Rig vests to the Guam Fire Department. The vests are equipped with Level IV National Institute of Justice Armor Plates and will help to keep emergency services personnel safe and provide a level of protection much like Law Enforcement vests. The Fire Rescue Armor Rig vests are designed to protect fire personnel and help to distinguish between a Law Enforcement response and a Fire/Rescue response. The project was 100% federally funded by the Homeland Security Grant Program.

CTAW 2018 is Guam’s local initiative to be part of a larger counter terrorism effort across the Nation. On October 4, 2018, President Donald Trump released his National Strategy for Counterterrorism, which outlines a new approach to counter and prevent evolving terrorist threat, with focus on:

Pursuing terrorists to their source;

Isolating terrorists from their sources of support;

Modernizing and integrating the United States’ counterterrorism tools;

Protecting American infrastructure and enhancing resilience;

Countering terrorist radicalization and recruitment; and

Strengthening the counterterrorism abilities of our international partners.

“Guam’s geographic location makes it an ideal point of entry for possible threats into the Nation,” stated Governor Eddie Baza Calvo. “While we work to make sure our ports of entry, both air and sea, are not porous to such threats, I commend the men and women working behind the scenes to improve and review ways to harden and strengthen our counter terrorism efforts, locally.”

“As important as it is to prepare for natural hazards, it is equally important to prepare for man-made threats,” stated Lieutenant Governor Ray Tenorio. “Let us all be a part of this larger initiative by reporting suspicious behavior or activity in order to help prevent heinous terrorist conduct in our region.”

Throughout the week, GHS/OCD are hosting multiple mission specific events including the Guam Public Safety Broadband Workshop with FirstNet, Nation State Threat Workshops for senior leaders and operational planners, various working group meetings covering many topics such as: active shooter, cyber security, CBRNE, critical infrastructure, public health and medical, and emergency management. While these activities are by invite only, the community is encouraged to recognize CTAW as an active collaboration among emergency management stakeholders within the government, federal, military, private, and non-profit organizations. Begin discussions with family and friends now about counter terrorism and what that means for Guam.

To learn more about the National Strategy for Counterterrorism, counter terrorism and where to report suspicious activity, visit the following links:

X Flooding is a temporary overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible causes of floods including heavy rain, coastal storms and storm surge, waterway overflow from being blocked with debris, or overflow of levees, dams, or waste water systems. Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning, called flash floods.

X
Typhoons/Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from typhoons/hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, and rip currents.

“Hurricanes” form in the Atlantic Northeast Pacific region and “Typhoons” form in the Northwest Pacific Region. These large storms are call cyclones in other parts of the world.

X Hazardous materials come in the form of explosives, flammable and combustible substances, poisons and radioactive materials. Hazards can occur during production, storage, transportation, use, or disposal. You and your community are at risk if a chemical is used unsafely or released in harmful amounts in the environement where you live, work or play.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Definition of Terrorism

Under Section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002:

The term ‘‘terrorism’’ means any activity that— (A) involves an act that— (i) is dangerous to human life or potentially destructive of critical infrastructure or key resources; and (ii) is a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State or other subdivision of the United States; and (B) appears to be intended— (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping.

X Tsunamis, also known as seismic waves (mistakenly called “tidal waves”), are a series of enormous waves created by an underwater disturbance such as an earthquake, landslide, volcanic eruption, or meteorite. Earthquake-induced movement of the ocean floor most often generate tsunamis. If a major earthquake or landslide occurs close to shore, the first wave in a series could reach the beach in a few minutes, even before a warning is issued.